NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme

The Healthier You: NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme (NDPP)

This programme a joint commitment from NHS England, Public Health England and Diabetes UK to identify and provide support for people at high risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. The programme is currently being rolledout across the whole of Cheshire and Merseyside.

It aims to delay or prevent the onset of Type 2 Diabetes by supporting people to achieve a healthy weight, be physically active and adopt a healthy diet.

Who is the programme for?

The Healthier You: NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme is designed for people who are at risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. Some of the known risk factors can't be changed, but there are others you have control of every day and you can affect your level of risk by the choices you make.

The risk of Type 2 diabetes can be reduced significantly by reducing your weight, increasing the amount of physical activity that you do and improving your diet. Your local Healthier You: NHS DPP service can support you in taking action in all these areas.

If you are not sure whether or not you are at risk, you can use this Risk Assessment tool to find out. If the results indicate that you are at high risk of developing diabetes, ask your GP for a blood test to check your status and refer you to the programme.

How can you join the programme?

You can access the programme in any of the following ways:​

Your GP or nurse may have told you that you are at a high risk of developing Type 2 diabetes – ask them to refer you to your local Healthier You service

You may have discovered in your NHS health check that you are at high risk of developing Type 2 diabetes – ask the health check professional to refer you to your local Healthier You service

You may have had your risk assessed at a local event or by using an online assessment tool. If you think you are at a high risk you can ask your practice nurse to arrange the necessary blood tests and if the risk is confirmed, you can ask for a referral to your local Healthier You service

FAQs

What is Type 2 diabetes?

People with Type 2 diabetes don’t produce enough insulin or the insulin they produce doesn’t work properly (known as insulin resistance). 90 per cent of people with diabetes have Type 2. They might get Type 2 diabetes because of their family history, age and ethnic background puts them at increased risk. They are also more likely to get Type 2 diabetes if they are overweight.

It starts gradually, usually later in life, and it can be years before they realise they have it. Type 2 diabetes is treated with a healthy diet and increased physical activity. In addition, tablets and/or insulin can be required. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition, not related to lifestyle.

How do you prevent Type 2 diabetes?

Studies suggest that a large number of cases of Type 2 diabetes are related to lifestyle factors, such as body weight, low physical activity and poor diet. Whilst you can’t change some of the risk factors for Type 2 diabetes, like age, ethnicity, and genetic link, you can reduce your risk significantly by reducing weight, reducing waist size achieved through eating less/healthier eating and being more physically active.

Why is a prevention programme needed?

Diabetes is a serious condition. Every year, about 20,000 people with diabetes die early. Diabetes is responsible for more than 100 amputations a week. It is a leading cause of preventable sight loss in people of working age. It is a major contributor to kidney failure, heart attack, and stroke. As well as the human cost, Type 2 diabetes costs the NHS £8.8 billion every year, almost 9% of its budget.

90 per cent of people with diabetes have Type 2, which is largely preventable. By investing in prevention, and stopping or delaying people getting Type 2 diabetes, we have a real opportunity to reduce costs further down the pathway of care. The risk factors for Type 2 diabetes are also risk factors for other serious conditions like cardiovascular disease, so helping people reduce their risk of Type 2 diabetes will also reduce their risk of other serious illness.

What will happen in the programme?

Individuals who are identified as at high risk of Type 2 diabetes, through an NHS Health Check, existing data on a GP practice register or other means, will be offered a place on a behavioural intervention. There will be an assessment of weight, HbA1c and behavioural risks at enrolment, 6 and 9 months and at the end of the intervention (if this is different to 12 month landmark) to determine the extent to which participants have reduced their risk.

What will people get from the programme?

The programme is underpinned by three goals:

achieving healthy weight

achievement of dietary recommendations

achievement of physical activity recommendations

People will be supported to set and achieve goals and make positive changes to their lifestyle in order to reduce their risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. Sessions will be delivered predominantly in groups and will be face-to-face’.